NBA Finals MVP LeBron James and the Cavs defeated the defending champion Warriors in seven games for these rings featuring the Cavaliers’ “C” wrapped around the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

2014-15 Golden State Warriors

The Warriors took home these beauties after upending LeBron James and the Cavaliers in six games for their first title in 40 years.

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

2013-14 San Antonio Spurs

The Heat aimed to three-peat, but the Spurs had other ideas. Kawhi Leonard had a couple of breakout performances on his way to series MVP, and San Antonio ran away from Miami in five games.

D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images

2012-13 Miami Heat

These rings would have never seen the light of day had Ray Allen not made one of the greatest shots in NBA Finals history. Thanks to Allen, the Heat rallied and defeated the Spurs in overtime in Game 6, and then won two days later to repeat as champs.

Omar Vega/Invision/AP Images

2011-12 Miami Heat

LeBron James got his first ring as the Heat overwhelmed the Thunder in five games. James averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

2010-11 Dallas Mavericks

Dallas won three straight games to erase a 2-1 deficit and squash the newly formed Miami Big Three's title dreams. This was also the Mavericks' first NBA title in franchise history.

Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers

The Celtics held a 3-2 lead in this series, but the Lakers took care of business at the Staples Center in Game 6 and 7 to repeat as champs. This was the fifth and final set of rings for Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant.

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers survived in a pair of overtime battles and then pulled away from the Magic in Game 5 to win their first NBA title since 2002's three-peat. Kobe Bryant won series MVP with averages of 32.4 points and 7.4 assists.

Andrew D.Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

2007-08 Boston Celtics

Acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen during the off-season paid off quickly for Boston. In their first year, Garnett and Allen teamed up with Paul Pierce to defeat the Lakers in six games and bring the Celtics new jewelry for the first time since 1986.

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

2006-07 San Antonio Spurs

LeBron James' Cavaliers broke through to the finals, but they were no match for the Spurs, who completed the sweep for their third title in five years.

Eric Gay/AP

2005-06 Miami Heat

In their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, the Heat became the third team in league history to win a championship after trailing 0-2. Dwayne Wade averaged 39.3 points in the next four games as Miami won the series in six.

Doug Benc/Getty Images

2004-05 San Antonio Spurs

This series was almost as close as possible. The Spurs and the Pistons entered the fourth quarter of Game 7 tied, and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili led San Antonio in the fourth quarter to its third title under coach Greg Popovich.

D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

2003-04 Detroit Pistons

Larry Brown had an NCAA title ring, and a 4-1 victory over the Lakers gave the coach his first NBA championship ring. Brown remains the only coach to win an NCAA and NBA title.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

2002-03 San Antonio Spurs

In one of the great all-time playoff performances, Tim Duncan fell barely shy of a quadruple double with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks in the series-clinching Game 6.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers

The Nets did not put up much resistance as the Lakers completed a 4-0 sweep for their third straight title, giving coach Phil Jackson his ninth NBA title in 12 seasons.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers

Allen Iverson carried the 76ers to a Eastern Conference title and Game 1 victory against the Lakers, but Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were too much for The Answer. Los Angeles won the next four games, including three straight in Philadelphia, to win its second straight championship.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers

In his return to coaching, Phil Jackson guided the Lakers to a 4-2 series victory against the Pacers, coached by Larry Bird. Shaquille O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, earning his first of three straight Finals MVPs.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1998-99 San Antonio Spurs

In a battle of dominant frontcourts, David Robinson and Tim Duncan bested Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson as the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games for their first NBA title.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1997-98 Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan's jump shot with 5.6 seconds remaining in Game 6 gave the Bulls their second three-peat of the decade. Since then, Chicago has no NBA Finals appearances and only one conference finals appearance.

1996-97 Chicago Bulls

In a series featuring six Hall of Fame players, the Bulls defeated the Jazz in six games as Michael Jordan fought through food poisoning to lead Chicago to wins in Game 5 and Game 6.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1995-96 Chicago Bulls

Dennis Rodman tied an NBA Finals record in Game 2 with 11 offensive rebounds against Seattle and then did it again in Game 6, the series clincher, but Michael Jordan was once again the no-brainer series MVP, averaging 27.3 points 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1994-95 Houston Rockets

Hakeem Olajuwon taught young Shaquille O'Neal a few lessons in this series as the Rockets swept the Magic for their second consecutive NBA title. The Rockets were the first No. 6 seed to win a Finals series.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1993-94 Houston Rockets

The Rockets ended a five-season title drought for the Western Conference as Hakeem Olajuwon charged victories in Game 6 and Game 7 in Houston.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1992-93 Chicago Bulls

The Bulls became the first team to three-peat since Bill Russell's Celtics in the 1960s. Chicago defeated Phoenix in six games, leaving Charles Barkley without a ring.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan shrugged his way to a NBA Finals record six first-half three-pointers in Game of 1 of this series, and the Bulls went on to win in six games.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1990-91 Chicago Bulls

The Bulls recorded their first-ever NBA title as Michael Jordan led the way averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks to defeat the Showtime Lakers in five games.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1989-90 Detroit PIstons

For the first time since 1979, the NBA Finals did not include at least one of the Celtics or the Lakers. The Bad Boy Pistons faced Clyde Drexler and the Trail Blazers, winning in five games for their second straight championship.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1988-89 Detroit PIstons

The Lakers led entering the fourth quarter three times during this series but could never hold on as the Pistons swept them in four games.

1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers

This time, the Lakers got the best of the Pistons in a thrilling seven games series where the final two games were decided by a combined four points.

1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

In a high-scoring series, the Lakers and the Celtics each broke the century in the first five games. Then Los Angeles held Boston to 93 points to win the series in Game 6.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1985-86 Boston Celtics

The Celtics captured their second title in three years, defeating the Rockets in six games. Larry Bird fell just shy of averaging a triple with 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers

In a series that featured nine Hall of Fame players, the Lakers got revenge from one year earlier with a 4-2 victory against the Celtics.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1983-84 Boston Celtics

The Celtics came out on top in the first of three 1980s finals meetings with the Lakers. Larry Bird averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds, getting the best of Magic Johnson, who's Michigan State team got defeated Bird's Indiana State squad in the 1979 NCAA championship.

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers

In a rematch of the 1982 finals, Moses Malone tore up the Lakers front line for 25.8 points and 18 rebounds per game as Philadelphia swept Los Angeles.

If you're the type who puts off doing your taxes until the final days, here's hoping this weekend's lovely lady, Jessica Killings, doesn't distract you too much. Shout out to Tom in Arlington for the recommendation. (Click here for full-size version.)

Will the NBA Ever Have Another 3,000 Point Scorer?

On this day 29 years ago, Michael Jordan became the only NBA player beside Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season. He put an exclamation point on the feat by going off for 61 against 'Nique and the Hawks that night. No one has sniffed 3,000 points in a season since. By comparison, James Harden led the league this year with 2,376 points, one more than Steph Curry.​

Steph Curry, Pro Quarterback

How does an MVP get ready for his first playoff game in what could be a repeat NBA Championship? Well, before the Warriors and Rockets tipped off, Steph Curry pretended to play football, baseball and soccer with the basketball.

Barbershop: The Next Cut

Enjoyed this review of the new Barbershop movie, and enjoyed even more watching the cameo of Anthony Davis. The Pelicans big man appears late in the film and creates some laughs when defending his unibrow. Barbershop won't be the highest grossing movie of the weekend, but it could be the funniest and most serious, all at the same time.

With a one-stroke lead heading to the final hole at the 2012 U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson (yellow shirt) blew his chance to win a third straight major when his tee shot bounced off this hospitality tent at Winged Foot and landed way astray of the fairway. He ended up with a double bogey.

Chuck Solomon/Sports Illustrated

USA goalie Jim Craig and Ken Morrow (3) defending the net in the 1980 Miracle on Ice victory over the USSR in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

The view from the triple jump pit at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

A UConn player on the screen at AT&T Stadium in Arlington with the USA flag unfurled below prior to a 2014 Final Four game between the Huskies and Florida.

More Extra Mustard

We've Got Apps Too

Get expert analysis, unrivaled access, and the award-winning storytelling only SI can provide — from Peter King, Tom Verducci, Lee Jenkins, Grant Wahl, Andy Staples and more — delivered straight to you, along with up-to-the-minute news and live scores.